Freedom is not a punchline

Earlier I posted about what I see as the ineptitude of the Democrats and demanded that they stand for something and someone. I think it’s only fair that I spell out what I think that is.

First, what they should stand for. It’s simple.

Liberals stand for liberty.

Liberals, progressives, the left, Democrats, Greens – whatever you want to call them or however you want to group them – stand for individual liberty and freedom – the right of every human being to choose his or her own life, as free as possible from all forms of coercion. By the way, that includes the coercion of markets. Markets can be just as coercive as governments when a person doesn’t have the resources to provide for the essentials of life. As FDR said in 1936, “Necessitous men are not free men.”

Second, who should they stand for? Again, it’s simple.

Liberals stand for everybody, equally. Everyone has a right to life and liberty, not just the select or the fortunate, however that is determined.

Last night, the liberal-progressive social group I organize held an election-watching party. Rand Paul came on to declare victory in his race for the Senate, and he spoke of freedom. The entire crowd began making fun of him and, by extension, every Republican that has cried “freedom” to score political points.

I’m afraid freedom and liberty have become punchlines to liberals and progressives. Instead of joking about it, we should be angry – angry that conservatives have stolen our signature belief from us.

We stand for liberty – true liberty. And it’s about time we started standing up for ourselves.